13 Things That Make Guys Irrationally Horny

Certain things make guys horny and we totally get it: naked people, pictures of naked people, moving images of naked people, being naked, being touched by a naked person, being touched while naked. The list is endless and largely nudity-related. But sometimes things make us horny, and we're like, "Brain and genitals, I don't know what you two are talking about but I just don't get it." As a side note, if you nicknamed your genitals "Brian," then you would address them as "Brain and Brian" which is ... I don't know, exactly, but it's something. Anyway, here are some things that tend to make guys horny out of nowhere.

1. That song that takes him back because it was playing the first time he had an orgasm in the back of a car.

Everyone has that song (or songs) that gets them in the mood. Maybe it's a pulsing techno anthem or a rock song that feels sexy or a song that was on in the background when he had the best sex of his life.

2. Getting a whiff of your perfume.

Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. Plus, perfume is designed to be attractive. If someone walks by who happens to smell like his partner or former lover, he's definitely wondering why he's so hot and bothered.

3. Catching a glimpse of his naked body in the mirror and realizing he's looking pretty great today.

People love being naked. And although you might not admit to it, you've definitely caught a look at yourself on your way to the shower on a particularly good day and thought, Yeah, OK. Not too shabby.

4. Eating a few slices of watermelon... or strawberries... or oysters... or...

The list of foods that double as aphrodisiacs is incredibly long (and often disputed). So while not everyone might want a side of orgasm with a plate of watermelon, he probably has a food or two that does it for him.

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5. When you show up in a red dress.

Yeah, there's a reason Valentine's Day is all about the color red. Studies show that it's the color most closely associated with arousal. So next time you're trying to seduce someone, throw on a red dress or heels or bodysuit.

6. Getting in a tickle fight while you're still in bed on a Sunday morning.

This is technically a fetish, but it's an incredibly common one. Known as "knismolagnia", it's part of the reason you get into tickle fights with your partner.

7. When you scratch his back.

Yeah, this one is different enough to get it's own name: acarophilia.

8. Getting into bed with some new clean sheets on it.

If you love sliding into a freshly changed bed, you're not alone. According to a U.K. survey, men and women both find clean sheets a turn-on. This might explain the appeal of hotel sex.

9. Fear.

Yeah, the fear boner is sort of real. It's supported by science (Thanks, science!) but fear doesn't actually arouse you in a direct way like other things on this list. It's really a "misattribution of arousal." Basically, fear and arousal share certain elements in common (shortness of breath, a rise in blood pressure). You're scared, but your brain decides that maybe you're horny instead.

10. When you throw on his dress shirt in the morning.

There's something really sexy about a woman wearing one of your shirts. There shouldn't be any reason a beautiful woman putting our own clothes on turns us on, but here we are.

11. If you know how to play guitar.

Musicians are sexy. And pretty much any instrument counts, except for maybe accordion. Actually, even accordion couldn't hurt.

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12. Being able to make him laugh.

A great sense of humor is always sexy. I'd say the best foreplay is laughter, but that's not true. The best foreplay is oral sex.

13. Being super, super, super nerdy about your hobbies.

"Nerdy" is just another way of saying "so passionate that it's embarrassing." You don't need to be super into the stereotypical "guy stuff" like video games or Star Wars. Being passionate about something— anything—is just sexy.

***This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.